The Invincible Supreme Medical God-Chapter 1060 - 567: Violet Peak (Part 2)
"Tomorrow at dawn, head to the Journeyman Apothecary Hall where the skilled Pharmacist promotion test will be held." Journeyman Apothecary Hall is located on the southern side of Fragrant Cloud Peak. It is surrounded by dense trees and vegetation, accessible only via a narrow limestone path that winds off a main road running up and down the mountain. Unless the promotion test is underway, few people tread this path. However, when the test time arrives, it will be packed.
Besides the disciples taking the exam, some friends come to support the candidates, and even those lacking the confidence to take the test without first observing it.
From afar, Journeyman Apothecary Hall actually resembles a cross-legged meditating person. In front of this person is a pill furnace, beneath which lies the pathway to the main square.
On that main square, twenty pill furnaces are set up, all identical in appearance. Beside each pill furnace is a pouch containing various types of herbs and plants for medicine concoction.
At dawn, Yan Xiaobao, worried he'd get lost, arrived early. However, upon arrival, he discovered some people had arrived earlier. About dozens of people stood together in twos or threes, quietly chatting, and even some stood alone in front, cross-legged in meditation.
Yan Xiaobao wasn't someone who could sit like an idiot. After a glance, he saw Xu Baocai approaching. When Xu Baocai noticed him coming closer, he greeted with both hands, and the two began to chat. It was soon apparent that without Xu Baocai noticing it, hardly anything happened within the sect.
"Brother Bai," he said, "have you heard that about half a year ago, Chen Fei and his friends were mysteriously reduced to a bloody pulp? Since then, they've been bedridden and for some reason, utterly refuse to speak about the incident." While speaking, he cautiously watched Yan Xiaobao's reaction.
Yan Xiaobao dramatically gestured a greeting, preparing to boast about the sudden incident, when a buzz permeated the crowd. Simultaneously, Yan Xiaobao felt as if someone suddenly looked in his direction. When he turned his head, he saw a young woman walking towards him.
She wore the attire of an Outer Sect Disciple, but it did nothing to conceal her curvaceous figure. Her waist was slender like a willow, accentuating the remaining curves, making her appear extremely beautiful. She had long legs, a lively rear, and as she approached, people couldn't stop staring.
Her beautiful face and clear, white skin seemed so delicate it could be disturbed by a gentle breeze, exuding an allure capable of rendering any man terminally enchanted.
Yan Xiaobao was somewhat disdainful hearing people dramatically gulping, even Xu Baocai.
Xu Baocai licked his lips, his eyes filled with infatuation, "That's... Sister Du, Du Lingfei!" he excitedly whispered, "She's one of the top five hottest women on South Shore! She's my immortal beauty... oh, heavens, she's looking at me!!"
"She's looking at me!" Yan Xiaobao replied mockingly. He simply watched as Du Lingfei approached. Suddenly as she stared directly at Yan Xiaobao, her Phoenix-like eyes flickered with a fierce aura. She quickly recognized Yan Xiaobao's herbal and vegetation skills surpassed hers. Yet, she still harbored a complete disdain for him. She softly snorted and moved aside.
Xu Baocai was dumbfoundedly staring at her, totally forgetting about Yan Xiaobao's mocking. In fact, he seemed more infatuated than ever.
"So Du Lingfei is also taking the test..." Yan Xiaobao thought. After glancing at the twenty pill furnaces, he calmed himself and focused. "Ah, anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm not here to compete with her. This is an exam managed by the sect, not a contest. Everyone has the opportunity to be promoted."
Soon, Chen Ziang appeared, and when he noticed Yan Xiaobao, he hesitated for a moment and then grinned and greeted. Yan Xiaobao smiled, clasped his hands, and Chen Ziang then sat down to wait.
Eventually, even Zhao Yiduo appeared, whom Yan Xiaobao initially encountered outside the mission office. Then, more and more people began showing up, forming quite a large crowd.
Before long, the doors of Journeyman Apothecary Hall creaked open, and an old man walked out. His hair was completely white, and his sharp eyes silenced everyone upon appearance.
The old man's expression was calm. He clasped his hands behind his back, striding forward. He stopped at the square, surveyed all the Outer Sect disciples, then nodded and began to speak.
"My surname is Xu, I will oversee this exam, for promoting from Apprentice Alchemist to Skilled Pharmacist."
"The test will include one part on herbal and vegetation knowledge, another part on medicine concoction. To pass the herbal and vegetation part, just walk through the passage." Elder Xu seemed unwilling to provide any further explanation. After saying only three sentences, he simply closed his eyes and ignored everyone.
Just as Yan Xiaobao blinked, a young man with a square face stepped out from the crowd. After clasping hands and bowing to Elder Xu, he strode toward the passage leading to the massive pill furnace.
Upon entering the passage entrance, a beam of light appeared around him and then vanished. A moment later, the pill furnace vibrated and then emitted five low echoes.
Xu Baocai leaned over and whispered, "Five echoes mean his skills in herbal and vegetation cover the fifth volume..." He should absolutely know everything within this sect.
Yan Xiaobao blinked again. Before coming, he didn't know how the test would proceed. After hearing Xu Baocai's explanation, he examined the gigantic pill furnace and suddenly felt it must be connected to the stone stele outside the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion.
"What should I do now...?" He hesitated. "Zhou Xinqi's fans are still combing the peaks for me."
Soon, more people approached, most receiving five echoes. However, one of them received only four echoes, prompting Elder Xu to flick his sleeve and let that disciple spin around.
"Elder Xu!" the disciple exclaimed, his face flashing." I thought the fourth volume on herbal and vegetation was the minimum requirement for taking the test!"
"The rules have changed. It's the fifth volume now."
"But..." the young man stared in shock, then clenched his hands painfully and bowed. He dared not say more.
This shift sparked whispers of discussion. Xu Baocai's eyes flashed in surprise; he suddenly pulled out a small notebook and began taking notes. Yan Xiaobao glanced and saw a page full of writing, each character like a fly's head. Clearly, it was a record of all matters related to the sect, regardless of size. Yan Xiaobao couldn't help but admire how seriously Xu Baocai treated the whole matter.
It was at this moment Zhao Yiduo stood and entered the passage. Six echoes rang, after which Elder Xu opened his eyes and nodded slightly. Zhao Yiduo clasped his hands and left the passage.
Chen Ziang's eyes flickered. He and Zhao Yiduo never got along, so he coldly snorted, entered the passage, and heard six echoes.
Giving Zhao Yiduo a meaningful gaze, then he sat cross-legged to the side.
Indeed, both Zhao Yiduo and Chen Ziang received six echoes, sparking envious whispers. Meanwhile, Du Lingfei's eyes glowed, she walked through the passage. As she did, six echoes were heard, prompting more envious glances from bystanders.
Murmuring conversations erupted instantly.
"Chen Zie, Zhao Yiduo, Du Lingfei are all outstanding talents in the Outer Sect. They've not only mastered the five volumes of herbal and vegetation but also the first batch of spiritual creatures. I'd say they have a 70% to 80% chance of passing the test and being promoted to skilled rank."
"From a historical perspective, anyone who's taken the skilled test already mastered six steles, as long as the disciple's performance in medicine concoction isn't lacking."
As everyone discussed these things, Yan Xiaobao bit down. Unfortunately, he was powerless against Zhou Xinqi's fans. Just as he was about to step forward, a figure appeared from afar, racing down the mountain path. It was a middle-aged man, his hair completely disheveled, but his eyes sparkling. Even before arrival, his voice rang out among everyone.
...
